Advocacy For Kids Begins Here- written by Sharon Roubinek: Founder/CEO of Imagine Foundation For Kids

What defines the word “advocate”?

An advocate is “A person who champions support or recommends a particular cause or policy” as defined by the dictionary. I also like the words, recommend, prescribe, advise, urge, and would like to add the word “fight” on behalf of children.

As most of you know, I am an advocate! When it comes to the safety, well-being, and lives of the children hurting in our society today, I find myself more than an advocate.

I believe that most who know me, know I am a fighter! I fight on behalf of the parents, adopted prospective parents, as well as the adopted parents. No, I am not a CPS worker, even though I do know some excellent ones. Unfortunately, I have recently become acquainted with some that are not so excellent. However, that is a story for another day!

Today, I would like to tell you a true story going on right now, as I am writing this as an advocate for four children and their soon to be adopted mothers.

My phone rang over a year ago from a dear friend who asked me if I could help a family that seems to have “no hope” of a solution. You see, two mothers seeking adoption of two sets of identical twins had willingly, several years ago, allowed CPS to place these children into their homes.

The two separate Moms, at the time, had no idea the set of twins they took into their homes were actually siblings with placement not too far from each other. When they finally learned of the situation, they became in touch and have regularly kept “play dates”scheduled for the siblings. These children are thriving in their respective homes. They are very well cared for and loved, as well as nurtured.

When CPS dropped them off at their respective homes, they proceeded to file criminal charges of neglect, as well as sexual abuse, of all four babies. You see, the biological mother of these children is a drug addict, as well as many other things, including dealing in drugs. She is the mother of eight children that she has NEVER cared for or provided for in her lifetime. The older four were taken early on, as well.

I have been actively working on the legal adoption of these children to their adoptive families. In the course of trying to make sense of what happened since CPS dropped them off, the following things have happened:

CPS never stayed in the transition to make sure these children had what they needed and deserved with respect to social services, insurance benefits, educational benefits, as well as other deserving benefits.

CPS arranged for the biological “Mother” to sign what is basically a permission slip to stay with these two families that have always wanted to legally adopt them from the moment they showed up on their doorstep.

When CPS could not find the biological mother to take her to court in the criminal case, which was substantial, they chose to drop the case because “they could not find her”.

We immediately began to call CPS to speak with the caseworker involved. We later found out that she is facing two criminal charges as I write this and still has not been before the court.

There is much more to this story! However, I wanted to lay the groundwork for an ongoing struggle that is outrageous and would love to hear your opinion.

What if I told you that for all these years the biological mother has declared to the IRS that these children were all dependent’s on her return? (She has never really held down a job, so I find that interesting) What if I told you that she applied for every social service known to man for herself, and these children, including Medicaid? What if I told you that the fraud upon the taxpayers has been reported three times to them and they have done nothing?! None of the eight children have ever been in her care for any length of time. One of the older children was picked up in a crack house with the biological mom dealing. Maybe I am wrong….maybe the government does require you to report drug dealing income on their returns as well as other sources of income.

What if I told you that the families with these children in care cannot even get insurance on them under another policy because CPS dropped the ball and did not get the termination of the rights of the mother in place so the adoptions could move forward, making it impossible for them to be insured without an adoption certificate?

What if I told you that the biological mother continues to taunt the adoptive mothers and the families about going to daycare and getting her kids?! And yet, CPS could not find her. I don’t know because I am thinking about the line in so many movies, I have lost count for someone to show up with a brain and follow the money! She has received her Medicaid income that all of us are supporting!

These children and their wonderful families have suffered long enough! Shame on CPS for dropping kids on the doorsteps of these families and walking away, leaving all of them in the lurch! Yes, I am an advocate for them, and I will continue to get the message out.

Now, I need your help! Please sign a petition, make comments, or references to anyone that you know that can possibly help us get this situation under control. Trust me, I am not done! These families and these beautiful children need peace in their lives. They are scared to death that their biological Mom will simply show up and take them away. The fathers of the children are not even in the picture.

I am focusing on Medicaid taking action, for giving the biological Mom benefits she does not deserve, and these children struggling for the benefits they deserve. Most of us would be sitting in a federal penitentiary for such acts. I am focusing on the termination of parental rights that would enable these Moms to adopt these sweet and amazing children.

Please help me in standing up and being a voice for these children, and so many others, that have had their innocence stripped away, and continue to be victims to a system that is turning a blind eye.